( 1 ) LEARNED Advocate Mr Munshaw is appearing for the petitioners in this group of petitions and learned Advocate Mr Pathak is appearing for the respondent-workman in each petition.

( 2 ) RULE Learned Advocate Mr P H Pathak appearing for the respondent-workman in each petition has waived service of rule On the facts and in the circumstances of the case, all these petitions have been taken up for final hearing today itself.

( 3 ) IN this group of petitions, this Court (Coram : Miss R M Doshit, J.) issued notice to the respondents returnable on 17th December, 1999 and meanwhile, ad interim relief in terms of para S (C) has been granted.

( 4 ) IN the present petitions, the petitioner-Board has challenged the order passed by the labour Court, Amreli in Recovery Application Nos 318 to 360 of 1998 (Old Nos 866 to 980 of 1995) The labour Court has passed a common order in the said group of recovery applications under Sec 33 (C) (2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 ("the I D Act" for short ).

( 5 ) THE facts of the present petitions, in short, are that the respondent-workmen are working with the petitioner-Board as a Diesel Operator, Electrical Operator, Attendant, Wat